Writer’s Block

We discussed creative burnout last week, but what is one to do about plain ole’ writer’s block? The words just won’t come, and the blank page or screen in your face is not a product of exhaustion, but a sudden, looming wall of nothing.

“I was just on a roll! Where did my words go? Where did my thoughts go?”

Perhaps the block is a product of sensory or creative overload. Too many ideas going in too many different directions refuse to be reined in and focused. I’ve wondered if this is more common for women, because our thoughts tend to be connected naturally. (I would claim it as a superpower, except separating ideas is like separating spaghetti noodles. Messy.) However, I expect every creator faces the monstrosity of too much mental action, men and women alike.

Perhaps the block exists because we’ve poured ourselves so fully into a particular character or scene, and our hearts are so full of feelings that our words begin to taper off, then cease. Or perhaps, the writer’s block is born of lack of planning. Yes, I’m talking to you, “pantsers”, because I completely relate. There’s a place for plotting, even for discovery writers. (We will discuss that in a future post.)

So, what do we do when the words won’t come and our inspiration is waning, yet we are still firmly in the creative zone? Are there strategies we can employ, or must we wait until the wall between us and inspiration crumbles beneath the force of our own willful staring?

Well, if you choose to stare, don’t forget to blink.

There are several strategies that writers across genres recommend. I’ve found them all to work for me at various times, depending on my specific problem.

For one, it helps to move our bodies. Get outside for a few minutes, take a walk, play with a pet, chase your children. Just move something, and vigorously. (Regular exercise is also helpful to keep the creative juices flowing.)

Write something different, especially something not part of the book. Expand a character’s backstory. Immerse yourself in the scenery, mood, and life of the place you are writing about. I once read advice on writing a modern-day conversation between three or four characters. The topic of their conversation? What constitutes a truly great pizza. What began as a silly exercise blossomed into a deeper insight of their personalities, and I wrote much more authentically for each of them from there, with fewer blocks.

Look up images of places that inspired your work or find new inspiration. Character images are also a good way to keep the story before you while opening your mind to new details. I have an extensive Pinterest board just for my stories.

A good playlist works wonders. I write much better with music than without, and have specific songs for each POV character, place, and circumstance. It helps keep a consistent mood and tone.

Go over your work with a peer and ask for their feedback. Let them read what you have of the scene so far. I know this is scary, but so worth it. You can also walk away and read someone else’s work. I usually choose poetry, or a book outside my genre. Filling my mind with others’ words helps my own words flow.

All writers face writer’s block from time to time. Overcoming and managing it helps us grow in our craft, and accepting it as natural is freeing.

Do you have a different strategy that helped you with writer’s block? Please share in the comments!

(Below, real-world images that correspond to the fantasy world of Ehlon. Do you recognize one or two?)